Cargo Statistics: Los Angeles, Saint John, Virginia

Port of Los Angeles Breaks All-Time Cargo Volume Record in 2017
 
The Port of Los Angeles moved more cargo in 2017 than in any time in the Port’s 110-year history, racking up 9,343,192 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), a 5.5 percent increase over 2016’s record-breaking year. It’s the most cargo moved annually by a Western Hemisphere port.

"We are powering Los Angeles’ economy to new heights every year, because we know that lasting prosperity means investing boldly in jobs, opportunity, and growth," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "The success of our Port tells the story of a city whose moment has arrived — and we will continue pushing forward as we expand our role in the global economy."

"2017 was a year beyond expectations but it was not by chance," said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. "Our growth is a direct result of a concerted, multi-year effort by the Port and its many partners to maximize efficiency throughout the supply chain. All the collaborative work by a broad range of global maritime stakeholders has delivered these remarkable results."

Port Saint John 2017 Reports 15% Gain in Year-Over-Year Cargo Tonnage

Year-over-year total cargo tonnage at Port Saint John increased by over 4 million metric tonnes in 2017. Overall cargo tonnage handled for the year 2017 was 30,458,422 metric tonnes, a 15% increase over 2016.
 
All cargo sectors, aside from the anticipated exception of containers, experienced significant gains in 2017. Additionally, the loss experienced in containerized cargo was lessened due the introduction of a new weekly container service by CMA CGM in 2017. This second global container service joined MSC who have been calling Port Saint John on a weekly basis since 2012.
 
"Our significant increase in tonnage for 2017 is attributable to the success of our stakeholders in the bulk sectors (dry, liquid and breakbulk) as well as our first year of operations with DP World at the multi purpose cargo terminals on the West Side. The DP World partnership blends their global reach and influence together with our terminal modernization project to achieve the common objective of continued growth and a bright future for the Port and its supporting port service community," said Jim Quinn, President & CEO of Port Saint John.
 
"The work of the entire port community contributes to local economies across our Province. Products from all corners of the Province are shipped to the Port using New Brunswick truckers, rail and roads. The Port opens the global marketplace to New Brunswick producers," added Allen Bodechon, Chair of the Board of Directors for Port Saint John. "On behalf of our Board and the management and staff at Port Saint John we congratulate our stakeholders on a successful year."

 

Port of Virginia Sets New Annual Volume Record in 2017
 
The Port of Virginia® set a new annual record for container cargo volume having handled more than 2.84 million twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, a 7 percent increase over last year’s total.
 
In 2017, loaded import and export volumes were up 8.6 percent and about 1 percent, respectively, over the prior year. The port saw increases in TEUs, truck volume, rail volume and total volume at Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT), the port’s growing barge terminal on the James River. Further, the port saw the number of new import vehicles (cars) at Newport News Marine Terminal jump 22.5 percent.
 
"In 2017, we moved 185,000 more TEUs than we did in 2016, which until now, was our highest volume year on record," said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. "For calendar 2017, we had a perfect streak with every month setting a new month-record, bringing us to a new annual record and did this while undertaking the largest infrastructure project in the port’s history.
 
"The growth is significant – 15,442 TEUs a month, on average – and we have responded with improved throughput and safety in all facets of the operation. With this level of growth, we are truly solidifying our position as the Mid-Atlantic’s global gateway."
 
The number of ships calling Virginia dropped by 9 percent in 2017. Fewer ships, but bigger in size with increasing cargo loads is a trend that was expected and one that will continue, Reinhart said. The increasing vessel sizes are the driver of the terminal expansion projects and larger effort to dredge the Norfolk Harbor to 55 feet and widen its in- and out-bound commercial navigation channels.